My cat suddenly hates his food!

Hi:

I am new here. I own a DSH male named Smudge who is about 4 years old. Smudge was hit by a car about 6-7 weeks ago. His right rear leg was broken and had a significant gash (you could see bone), and his left rear leg was dislocated. Fortunately no internal damage. Smudge has had three surgeries since the accident, and is now finally able to get around with the addition of a pin in his broken leg. He has been on antibiotics almost constantly since the accident.

For weeks, while he didn't eat a lot, he did eat and seemed to enjoy his food like usual. Now, since the last surgery, he suddenly will not eat his dry food, he'll only lick the sauce out of his wet food, and doesn't like any treats. He is drinking water just fine. In desperation, I went out and bought all sorts of stuff to see if he would eat ... the only thing he will eat is canned tuna. Yesterday he ate a whole can. He has lost a lot of weight and muscle, and after all we have been through, I don't want this to be the thing that endangers his life.

I need suggestions. I will call the vet on Monday to discuss this with him, but in the mean time, does anyone have experience with this? He is not listless, he seems quite happy in fact. I just can't stand to see him not eat since he has gotten pretty bony. He has been such a trooper through it all ... he is such a great cat. The attached photo was taken about 4 weeks ago ... he no longer has the cast on.

Thanks!!!
Smudge's Mom

This is Smudge :-)

awww what a cutie! Poor little guy!!!! Did you vet give you any hill's a/d? When my guys don't want to get that is what the vet gives me. I mix it with kmr and either force feed them or they just lick it up because they love the stuff. It is a speical food for sick or recovering animals.

No ... but I know he carries it, so I will ask him on Monday. Thanks for suggesting that! What is "kmr"?

First off I am sorry that Smudge (who is beautiful) has had to undergo such trauma. You are fortunate he is still alive. Most cats lose when it comes to car vs cat. It could be that there is internal injury for him that is just now showing up. It could also be that the round of antibiotics has made him less than enthusiastic about eating (which is common depending on what they gave him) It could also be that with the shock, trauma and pain he has to deal with, his immune system is low and he is coming down sick with something not related to his injuries.

A vet visit at this point would be vital for him. I would take him in today if it were me- but that being said-

Try these tips-

Fancy Feast or Whiskas cat food (junk food for kitties) Mash it up good and nuke it in the microwave just long enough to make it warm but not hot.

Buy some Kitty Milk Replacer and see if he will at least drink that, if he does drink it, separate an egg and add a raw egg yolk whip it up good and see if he takes it.

Ask your vet for AD cat food..

Try this on him, it is called kitten glop but older cats who are convalescing usually love this stuff:

1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin
1 12 oz can goat's milk
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
3 teaspoons clear karo syrup
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 egg (optional)

Boil water, mix in gelatin. Add other ingredients and mix with beater or blender. Serve warm

Contact Pat&Alix (member on the board) and order Kitty Kaviar for him.

Cream Cheese is always a good one to try. Put a little on your finger and see if he licks it, if he does, mix a little bit of cat food oil with it (I know it sounds gross) but cats usually love this.


Good luck!

Originally posted by SmudgesMom
No ... but I know he carries it, so I will ask him on Monday. Thanks for suggesting that! What is "kmr"?

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kmr is what you give baby kittens that won't nurse from mommy. it is like formula for cats! when my vet first gave me the a/d he said mix it with water. But I came up with the bright idea to mix it with kmr he thought that was a good idea. The stuff is just EXPENSIVE!

KMR Kitty Milk Replacer

There is also Eukanuba high calorie food that you can get from the vet. It is a gruel that all my cats seem to want even the finicky ones. It should put some weight on your baby.

Poor Smudge...he is a handsome fellow and I can understand your concern. I hope when you take him in on Monday, that they will find an easy solution. In the meantime, you are right to do whatever it takes to get some nutrition into him. Just for nutritional value, one of your local pet stores should carry Nutrical, a high calorie paste that has a beef base/flavor to it...also excellent is a product called Stat, but that is harder to find (it's a high calorie liquid and it helps maintain electrolyte balance)...online a wonderful source would be revivalanimal.com)...another item you might find in your local store that I've not used (I have used Stat, and use nutrical) is Triage Intensive Care Feline Formula...it's a powder you mix with water, and it's high in protein, fat and essential amino acids. You might find that at a local Petsmart. Any of the above will help you get him to Monday, in better shape.

Do whatever you can to get food into him, even if it means assist-feeding him (scoop of wet food on your finger, gently use one index finger to open on side of his mouth, and pop in your finger to smear the food along his inner cheek or if he will co-operate and not bite, place gently on the roof of his mouth.). I've found in assist feeding Patrick (kitty with crf) that sheba is a firm food, I can cut it into tiny cubes that pop quickly in along one side just inside his teeth, so he can easily chew it.

Please keep posting as to how you are doing this weekend?

HI
I was going to post the recipe for kitty glop (I renamed it Kitty Pudding --it sounded a bit more palatable!)--but noticed that "Hissy" got it to you! I can tell you that almost EVERY cat or kitten we have given this to, laps it right up! But if your little guy doesn't feel well enough, try "helping" him along with it!
I sure hope he feels better really soon. I bet, that even though he seems to be healing well, that his poor little body is still going through SO much. I do hope he feels better really soon!
p.s. I don't add the egg, but sometimes add some dry milk powder for extra protein and the yogurt changes the lactose content in it, to make it digestible for the kitties...

Hi All:

Well, I ran Smudge by the vet yesterday and we took his temperature ... perfectly normal. I picked up a can of Hill's A/D and he is eating that. They also gave me small bag of Hill's dry food to test, and I have been mixing it with tuna and he ate all of it. PHEW! He seem's happier & more energetic this morning. I will again touch base with the vet tomorrow about his status, but I am feeling relieved.

I attached another picture that I just took. :-) He's such a sweetie.

I really appreciate everyone's input & caring!!

Smudge's Mom

Originally posted by SmudgesMom
Hi All:

Well, I ran Smudge by the vet yesterday and we took his temperature ... perfectly normal. I picked up a can of Hill's A/D and he is eating that. They also gave me small bag of Hill's dry food to test, and I have been mixing it with tuna and he ate all of it. PHEW! He seem's happier & more energetic this morning.

Click to expand...

Yay...I am so happy to hear this, and what an absolutely gorgeous fellow he is...I love reds (and creams) with or without white, in colorpoint version or not